Primera División de El Salvador
The Primera División de El Salvador, also known as the La Liga Mayor or La Primera, is the top professional football league in El Salvador.
Founded in 1969, it features historic clubs such as Alianza FC, FAS, Águila, and Luis Ángel Firpo.
History and facts
The Salvadoran top division was reorganized in 1969 into its modern professional format. Since then, the league has used various tournament systems, but currently follows the Latin American style: two championships per year, Apertura and Clausura.
The league is well known for its passionate fanbases, intense Clasicos, and the dominance of clubs such as FAS, Águila, and Alianza, who together have won most national titles.
Salvadoran clubs also participate in the CONCACAF Central American Cup and can qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
League system
The Primera División sits at the top of the Salvadoran football pyramid.
Relegation is determined by a three-season average table, and the lowest team drops to the
Segunda División.
Table 1. Salvadoran football structure
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Primera División | 1 |
| Segunda División | 2 |
| Tercera División | 3 |
Lower levels consist of regional and youth divisions.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Primera División champions by titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| FAS | 19 |
| Águila | 17 |
| Alianza | 16 |
| Luis Ángel Firpo | 10 |
| Dragón | 3 |
FAS is the most successful club in El Salvador’s football history.
Teams with most participation
Table 3. Clubs with most Primera División seasons
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Águila | 70+ |
| FAS | 65+ |
| Alianza | 60+ |
| Firpo | 50+ |
| Dragón | 40+ |
Águila has been present in the league for most of its modern era.
Audience
Stadium capacities
Table 4. Major stadiums in El Salvador
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| FAS | Estadio Óscar Quiteño | 15,000 |
| Águila | Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza | 10,000 |
| Alianza | Estadio Cuscatlán | 53,400 |
| Firpo | Estadio Sergio Torres | 5,000 |
| Dragón | Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza | 10,000 |
Players
Famous Salvadoran players
- Jorge "Mágico" González
- Raúl Díaz Arce
- Darwin Cerén
- Nelson Bonilla
- Benjamín Monterrosa
- Herbert Sosa
Primera División timeline
1969
The Primera División is officially reorganized.
1998
Apertura/Clausura format begins.
2000s
FAS dominates much of the decade.
2020
COVID-19 impacts scheduling and formats.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primera_División_de_El_Salvador
https://www.fesfut.org.sv
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primera_División_de_El_Salvador
https://www.fesfut.org.sv
https://www.rsssf.org
